Home is Where the Heart is <3 - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

”For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

This one’s going to sting.

I asked God what Romania would entail prior to arriving. He said, “joy.” And that indeed, is what it has been.

This month team Torch and team Fresh, AKA “New Fire,” worked alongside the ministry at Living Hope church in Pitesti, România.

Our primary outlets were homeless and children’s ministry every week.

For the homeless ministry, we prepared tea and coffee, hung out with them and built relationships, played endless games of ping-pong, sang songs, prayed, read the Word and gave them food – occasionally had the opportunity to eat with them as well.

For the children’s ministry, we primarily helped out the leaders with whatever they needed – whether being in charge of stations helping with the games, filling hundreds of balloons with air, helping with preparations, etc.. We were able to spend time with the kiddos and get to know them.

In addition to the wonderful ministry opportunities, I’d say this month was one where the team and I got to spend a lot of time with the host family – the Golas family.

They are a blessing and have such beautiful hearts and full of such wisdom. Their names are Cristi and Cami – they have 4 children – Bianca, Florina (she’s adopted from Razboieni), Dennis, and Marcus.

I can honestly say they’re a big reason why this month will be so hard to say bye here in Romania. But, maybe it won’t be bye forever.

I’ve thought a lot about home this month. Not necessarily because I’ll be back home in the States soon, or because Romania reminds me of home, but rather, spending more and more time with the homeless has really gotten me to thinking of what “home” really means.

According to the dictionary, home is defined as, the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.

What does home mean to you?

Here on earth, we have physical homes – places where our family lives, where we put tons of materialistic things to make it an awesome place to live in, so we can feel the most comfortable – and a place where even our friends can come and feel at “home”.

Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Honestly ask yourself, would you say your goal in life is to have the best home here on earth? Or in Heaven?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying having these things is wrong – most definitely not. All I’m saying is, do you notice if you’re more concerned about the stuff you have here on earth or more concerned about the home you will have in Heaven?

Due to spending time with people in need, I’ve been sitting with a lot of unanswered questions going on and on in my mind…. such as:

Why was I born where I was born? Why was I the one that was born in a Christian family and not on the streets in Romania? Why was I placed where I am?

Each week, spending time with homeless – something stirs inside of me. “God, it just doesn’t make sense. I can’t blame them for the way they live or the things that they have to do just to stay alive… if I were in their shoes, I would probably be the same.”

Then, I ask myself, “Do I truly believe what I say I believe? If yes, am I truly making the most of my time and spreading the Good News to the people I surround myself with and the people around me? Taking advantage of every opportunity? I mean, if it indeed is THE Truth, and I believe it, it would be a shame if I didn’t share that Truth that gives life to those who don’t know it yet.”

My heart hurts for those who are born in situations that they didn’t choose for themselves, yet they still have to live in those circumstances or situations. Yes, they can always try and find ways out of it – but I haven’t the slightest idea of what that means or what that entails, truly, because I was never put into their shoes.

I am still pondering on those questions, even today. I don’t know if I’ll ever have an exact answer as to why we are born where we are born. Why we are born into certain situations and not in others. Why some of us have the “easier” road verses the “harder” road in life. But then again, it’s all based on perspective. Maybe someone’s easier is actually harder and someone’s harder is actually easier. And I do believe God is sovereign and knows what He is doing – I believe that because His very Word says so.

2 Timothy 3:16a, “…all Scripture is God-breathed…”

So, why am I the one that was blessed to be born into a Christian family, with all of my needs provided? I don’t really know – I just know it’s part of God’s plan and that He wants to use me for His glory. So, rather than ignoring those in need, I choose to love them. I choose to have relationships with them. I choose to share the love of Christ with them. I choose to spread the Good News with them. Why? Because, as a believer, that is what I am called to – “to make disciples of all nations.”

The Truth I stand on – Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died for my sins and has given me a Hope and a Future, and I am called to share that Hope with others and tell them He did that for them, too – for the rich, for the poor, for the homeless, for the children, for everyone. And until Jesus Christ comes back to take me home, my eternal home, I pray my life is in God’s will and that I am making the most of every. single. moment.

Here are some pictures from the month.